Carbon fiber electrode

Claim 1

An electrochemical reactor comprising: a container having means defining at least one inlet and at least one outlet and including means defining an electrolyte flow path between the inlet and the outlet; a working electrode positioned in the electrolyte flow path, the electrode being of a plurality of carbon fibers arranged in a group with each fiber being generally in side-by-side relationship with other fibers so that each fiber makes numerous electrical connections by contact with other fibers over the length of the fiber and such that the group of fibers exhibits a significant thickness in all directions measured perpendicularly of each fiber so that in use electrolyte must take a tortuous path through the group of carbon fibers, each of the fibers having a relatively good electrical conductivity and having a very small maximum thickness compared with the length of the fiber, the length being such that the fibers individually exhibit no significant resistance to transverse deflection, and means coupled to at least some of the fibers electrically for establishing an electrical potential substantially throughout the electrode; and a counter-electrode positioned in the container and spaced from the working electrode.